Google is known for its highly advanced search algorithms which form the backbone of its powerful search engine that drives majority of the searches that take place in modern day internet. Keeping in line with this trend, the company has released a new algorithm named 'Pigeon' that is all set to redefine how people interact with local search results.

Pigeon and What it Means for Local SEO

Till the advent of Google's Pigeon search algorithm, local sites and marketers had a really tough time gaining visibility for their businesses and services when it came to search engine results. Thanks to this major overhaul from Google's end, small businesses and local SEO have now a shot at making it big and gaining more consumers for their business.

Small businesses have long complained that Google was taking unfair advantage of its dominance over internet searches and giving them poor visibility. For example, prior to this update, searches with Yelp always took backstage when compared to local listings shown by Google which were paraded at the top of the results. But the Pigeon update has brought smiles back to the faces of local SEO as Yelp sites are now receiving their own space at the top of the search engine ranking podium which has been long due.

Google's release of Pigeon search algorithm shows that it is committed towards improving the visibility of local SEO and giving them their fair share of recognition. The search results offered via Pigeon takes into account new parameters which were previously ignored or given less significance by Google. This includes the likes of location of the business and the distance at which it is located. So users can now receive results which are far more accurate and relevant to what they are looking for.

What if Pigeon Affects your Rankings?

While some businesses might gain due to the Pigeon update, there might be others who might see a sharp decline in their search engine rankings, especially the smaller ones. This might be due to the fact that they might have gone ahead with their own version of search engine optimization for their website. But all is not lost.

Pigeon will continue to get regular refinements and this means that as a small business owner, you still have time to set things straight in terms of the SEO that your site has undergone. Hence, it would be preferable to handover the local SEO Traverse City of your business to a well-experienced company that has the resources to boost your sales. Plus, understanding the factors based on which Google judges your business might give you a cue on the areas that you need to improve upon so that your business receives a SEO facelift.

As of now, Google's Pigeon has not been rolled out to the entire world. For the time being, only US English results will be impacted by this change and it will be gradually released to other languages and nations as well. But we can safely speculate that Pigeon is here to stay and revolutionize the way local business use the internet to bridge the divide between them and consumers.